Sparking Peace Book Review PLUS A Giveaway! #SparkingPeace ~

This post is sponsored by Herald Press. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sparking Peace

Written by Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin

Illustrated by Gabhor Utomo

Ages 5+ | 40 Pages

Publisher: Herald Press | ISBN-13: 9781513813707

Publisher’s Book Summary: Broken into beautiful. A story of friendship and healing.

After breaking a neighbor’s window, a young child discovers friendship, transformation, and new beginnings in an unlikely story of peace. Gentle and moving, this poetic tale offers readers a hopeful path in the face of gun violence and despair, showing kids how peacemaking can turn conflict into friendship and new beginnings—and forge guns into garden tools.

Children grow up with lockdowns and gun violence as part of their reality. As parents, caregivers, and educators, how should we respond? Sparking Peace provides a springboard for those seeking to discuss gun violence and trauma with children in a safe way that highlights help rather than harm. This picture book helps children learn about conflict while also carefully addressing gun violence and peacemaking. It includes resources that equip parents and educators to talk about gun violence and trauma, using a story of a broken window to show kids how conflict can be transformed through acts of peace. Suggested reading for ages 5–9.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Teresa Kim Pecinovsky holds a master of education from the University of Houston and a master of divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She is an ordained minister through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Rev. Teresa is the author of the children’s book Mother God and coauthor of The Peace Table. A healthcare chaplain, she lives with her family in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Hannah Rose Martin has had a passion for children’s education since she was in the 2nd grade, which led to a bachelor’s degree in education. She began teaching in an elementary school and is now a reading interventionist and Mennonite pastor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is a wife and mother of two energetic children who love books. She was inspired to teach and write because she saw a need for curriculum and books that engage children’s creativity and their role in the community around them. She hopes that Sparking Peace encourages parents and caregivers to have deeper conversations with children and together find that they are just one imaginative idea away from a transformed world.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Gabhor Utomo was born in Indonesia. He moved to California in 1997 to pursue a career as an artist. He received his degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in spring 2003. Today, he works as a freelance illustrator and has illustrated numerous children’s books. His first children’s book, Kai’s Journey to Gold Mountain, tells the story of a young Chinese immigrant on Angel Island. Gabhor’s work has won awards and recognition from local and national art organizations. His painting of Senator Milton Marks is part of a permanent collection at the California State Building in downtown San Francisco. He also created posters for the Mountain Play, an outdoor theater in Marin County, California. He lives with his wife, Dina, and their twin daughters in Portland, Oregon.

MY REVIEW

“Sparking Peace” is a beautifully crafted picture book about a child who accidentally breaks a neighbor’s window, leading to an unexpected friendship and a lesson about turning hurt into healing. The story shows how something bad can actually become something good, just like transforming weapons into tools for gardening.

The language is perfect for young readers and the wording makes it simple and easy o understand. I absolutely LOVE the illustrations by Gabhor Utomo. They are beautiful to look at while you are reading and they’re warm and meaningful images, showing peace, kindness, and change in a way children can see and feel.

Why I like it:

*It teaches peace and forgiveness in simple words.

*It shows that we can fix mistakes and build friendships.

*The pictures add to the calm, hopeful feeling of the story.

Final thought:
Sparking Peace is a sweet and powerful book that helps children learn about making peace in their own lives and communities.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

The Children’s Book Review

Book Tour Kick-Off

Thursday, July 10, 2025

The Starlit Path